Joshua

Every Day

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Every

single

day

 

we make the choice

 

who we will follow

who we will serve

who, or what, we will bow low to

 

And we forget

that it is a daily choice

 

for we think

YESTERDAY I was doing so well

 

seeking the Lord wholeheartedly

and following His lead

 

But TODAY

is today

 

and choose you THIS DAY

whom you will serve

 

How your time will be spent

If you will kneel before the God of the Universe

Who will rule your day

 

not forgetting the swirl of enemy soldiers

all about you

 

distracting

and deceiving

and demoralizing

 

Bring your thoughts

into agreement with the One who loves you most

 

Serve Him

Follow Him

Bow to Him

Listen to Him

Speak of Him

Speak to Him

 

Nothing in all your day

is as important as this

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.

– Joshua 24:15 (NLT)

 

Then He said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?

-Luke 9:23-25 (NIV)

 

Your own ears will hear Him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.

– Isaiah 30:21 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

Word Seeds

/ Susie Stewart / 3 Comments

The Word of God

is full of seeds

to be planted

 

And they are initially meant

to bring salvation

to the hearer

 

And from there,

to cause growth

and maturity

and fruit

 

But often times…

 

When The Word is brought to someone,

salvation is presented to them

 

but the enemy,

the devil,

snatches it away

 

and the person hears,

but they are not saved

 

And then sometimes

someone receives the Words with joy

 

but no roots grow

and the saved person

is dragged away by temptation

 

Then other times

the seed of the Word is heard

and the person is saved

 

but the worries

the riches

the pleasures

of this life

 

choke out the Word

and maturity is wanting

 

These three are ~

The Word along the path

The Word on rocky ground

and

The Word among the thorns

 

BUT

when the seed of the Word

falls on good soil

 

the soil of a noble and good heart

 

the hearer truly listens to the words,

retains the words,

and produces a crop,

rich with fruit

 

The Word

Heard

Planted

Growing

Multiplying

 

God’s Word is alive and active

and should be treated so

 

let it be planted

let it grow

 

– Susie Stewart

 

IMG_2147

 

There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.

 

– 2 Timothy 3:16,17 (MSG)

 

Let the words from the book of the law be always on your lips. Meditate on them day and night so that you may be careful to live by all that is written in it. If you do, as you make your way through this world, you will prosper and always find success.

– Joshua 1:8 (VOICE)

 

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

– Matthew 4:4 (NLT)

 

I have hidden Your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against You.

– Psalm 119:11 (NLT)

 

In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.

– John 1:1 (AMP)

 

Instead you thrill to God’s Word, you chew on Scripture day and night. You’re a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom.

– Psalm 1:2,3 (MSG)

 

For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.

– Hebrews 4:12 (AMP)

 

 

The Advantage

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

You’ve been through so much

and it hurts

 

But can you imagine

going through your pain

without Jesus?

 

Truly alone,

is no place to be

when you are hurting

 

But for the Christ-Follower,

alone is not an option

 

Your God never leaves you

 

And never is a long time

 

Your God never forsakes you

 

and never is a long time

 

Your God is there

and His Divine advantage is yours

in the struggle

 

Comfort,

spirit-deep comfort,

is yours

through Him

 

Just think…

you could be going through all of this

without Him

 

But you’re not

 

And that makes all the difference

in the world

 

– Susie Stewart

 

…the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

– Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)

 

…Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are Mine.
When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

– Isaiah 43:1-3 (NIV)

 

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

– Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

 

You, too, are being completed in Him, the One who has dominion over all rule, all authority.

– Colossians 2:10 (VOICE)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

 

Today

/ Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

Show me, God, how to

deny myself,

take up my cross,

and follow You

 

TODAY

 

not just in the hazy future

where intentions evaporate,

but Today

 

for, Lord, sometimes I forget

that what matters

is TODAY

 

The enemy wants me distracted

and to keep my mind

on what I might do tomorrow

and the next day

and the next

 

or on the past

 

But TODAY is important

and it is the day

I choose Who to follow

and I choose who to love

 

I choose

You, God,

 

TODAY

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me.”

– Matthew 16:24 (NIV)

 

If you decide that it’s a bad thing to worship God, then choose a god you’d rather serve—and do it today. Choose one of the gods your ancestors worshiped from the country beyond The River, or one of the gods of the Amorites, on whose land you’re now living. As for me and my family, we’ll worship God.

– Joshua 24:15 (MSG)

 

You should therefore be most careful, my brothers, that there should not be in any of you that wickedness of heart which refuses to trust, and deserts the cause of the living God. Help each other to stand firm in the faith every day, while it is still called “today”, and beware that none of you becomes deaf and blind to God through the delusive glamour of sin. For we continue to share in all that Christ has for us so long as we steadily maintain until the end the trust with which we began. These words are still being said for our ears to hear: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion’.

– Hebrews 3:12-14 (PHILLIPS)

 

The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”

– Luke 22:61 (NIV)

 

Photo by Gracie Oertli

I Am Yours

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Whomever You have created,

God,

has had a choice

 

To Follow You

or to turn away from You

 

Even the angels

 

For Lucifer

a beautiful angel in Your courts

 

Chose to despise You

instead of love You

 

And he took with him

others of beauty who made the choice

 

And all is death

and downhill

without You

 

I, God,

choose You

 

I will forever

be Yours

 

Your created

loves her Creator

 

and I’m so glad

for the choice

 

I

choose

You

 

I am Yours

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Today I have given you a choice between life and death, success and disaster.

– Deuteronomy 30:15 (ERV)

 

But maybe you don’t want to serve the Lord. You must choose for yourselves today. Today you must decide who you will serve. Will you serve the gods that your ancestors worshiped when they lived on the other side of the Euphrates River? Or will you serve the gods of the Amorites who lived in this land? You must choose for yourselves. But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.

-Joshua 24:15 (ERV)

 

I have decided to take the path of faith; I have focused my eyes on Your regulations.

– Psalm 119:30 (VOICE)

 

 

I love those who love Me, and those who look for Me will find Me.

-Proverbs 8:17 (ERV)

 

Photo by Kitty Keefer

 

Yourself

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

I have told you, my children,

since you were young

 

that you are responsible

for yourself

 

Many people will do what is wrong

in the sight of God

 

But you remain true to Him

no matter what

 

And don’t get caught up

and offended

and angry

at whatever they do

 

You be responsible for yourself

 

It is your own life

that God will hold you accountable for

 

You will not change others

Change yourself when God reveals truth to you

 

Just go about your Father’s business

and leave Him to handle others

 

And if God opens a door

for you to speak truth into another

 

invited

 

Do so humbly and boldly

 

You, my dear children,

are responsible for you

 

before man

and before God

 

– Susie Stewart

 

…choose today whom you will serve…But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.

– Joshua 24:15 (NLT)

 

The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

– 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NLT)

 

Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them!

– Luke 6:31 (MSG)

 

Jesus didn’t try to change the minds of those who firmly believed they were right.  His entire focus was to go about the Father’s business.

– Suzanne Eller

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Live Today

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Life is a choice

for you today

 

Blessings are a choice

for you today

 

For you can choose a death day

or a life day

 

And I think you know what I mean

 

For truly living

is a choice

 

Blessings toward others

are a choice

 

 

“Come follow Me,”

Jesus says

 

And following Him today

will open your eyes

 

to His goodness

His blessings

His love

His plans for you

 

this day

 

Choose to follow

and choose to LIVE

 

For a daily death is a slow

and sad

way to exist

 

Choose to Live

 

And look Up

 

to find the beauty

and the reason to truly live

 

– Susie Stewart

 

I call Heaven and Earth to witness against you today: I place before you Life and Death, Blessing and Curse. Choose life so that you and your children will live. And love God, your God, listening obediently to Him, firmly embracing Him. Oh yes, He is life itself, a long life settled on the soil that God, your God, promised to give your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

– Deuteronomy 30:19 (MSG)

 

Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds with beauty and truth. Meditate on whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good, whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy.

– Philippians 4:8 (VOICE)

 

…choose today whom you will serve.

– Joshua 24:15 (NLT)

 

As a prisoner of the Lord, I urge you: Live a life that is worthy of the calling He has graciously extended to you.

– Ephesians 4:1 (VOICE)

 

…I came to give life with joy and abundance.

– John 10:10 (VOICE)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Fear

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.
Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.
– Proverbs 9:10 (NLT)

 

A life of worship

is a life of fear

 

And it sounds strange

to say so

 

For fear

brings thoughts of scary

and terror

and angst

 

But Abba calls us to fear Him

with awe

and reverence

and joy

 

He calls us to see Him

in everything

 

He tells us not to fear people

or circumstances

or spiritual darkness

 

But to stand bold

in His Spirit

 

and this leaves us

with only the fear of HIM

 

But it couldn’t be further from the word we know

 

For this fear

dances in His presence

 

And brims over with joy

 

And seeks Him passionately

 

This fear is amazed at

and respecting

all-knowing

all-seeing

all-important

God

 

It is the beauty

of Father and child

 

It is

Fear

and fear not

 

– Susie Stewart

 

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

– 1 John 4:18 (NIV)

 

Fearing God has been a term I’ve wrestled with and longed to better understand. I know it means to have a deep level of reverence for God. But I love what a friend of mine who studies language root words to better understand biblical terms recently shared with me. After much study, she now defines a person who fears God as ‘one who sees the hand of God in everything.’ There are several Hebrew words for the word ‘fear’, but let’s look at two of these closely. One is ‘pachad’, which means terror. That’s not the one used in this passage about the fear of the Lord. The word used is ‘yirah’, which means being in awe of God. That deep sense of reverence where we truly desire to look for the hand of God in everything.
– Lysa Terkeurst

 

Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere Him.

– Psalm 33:8 (NIV)

 

Let all people stand in awe of the Eternal; let every man, woman, and child live in wonder of Him.

– Psalm 33:8 (VOICE)

 

The Fear-of-God is a spring of living water so you won’t go off drinking from poisoned well.

– Proverbs 14:27 (MSG)

 

 

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

– 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)

 

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

– Joshua 1:9 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

 

He Hasn’t Left

/ Susie Stewart / 5 Comments

Do you get the feeling

that God’s Spirit leaves

when you are grumpy

sad

angry

 

when you do something wrong?

 

That He can’t really stand

to be around you

when you’re like that?

 

That He’ll come back

when you’re back to yourself?

 

The Holy Spirit dwells with you

just like your family

 

but the difference is

He doesn’t leave the room

in disgust

 

when you are out of sorts

 

He walks with you

 

always

 

and He will be that friend

that sticks closer than a brother

 

He will be the one

who doesn’t leave

 

ever

 

His voice might be harder to hear

when you’re a hot mess

 

but He hasn’t left

 

that’s His promise

 

– Susie Stewart

 

…He will never leave you nor forsake you.

– Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)

 

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

– Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

 

Jesus replied, “All who love Me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and We will come and make Our home with each of them.”

– John 14:23 (NLT)

 

Photo by Arik Stewart

 

 

Cling

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

 

To grasp ahold of another

with vows sacred

 

To cling to my love

through joys and trials

 

To not let go

 

Is the picture You use, Lord,

for Your bride with You

 

Intimacy real

and fierce

 

Holding value

remaining true

 

A grasp so tight

a treasure so rare

 

As firm as that grip is with him

my embrace with You more

 

I cling to You my groom, Jesus,

Forever

 

– Susie Stewart

 

I cling to You;
Your strong right hand holds me securely.

– Psalm 63:8 (NLT)

 

For your Creator will be your husband; the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is His name! He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth.

– Ephesians 54:5 (NLT)

 

Revere the Lord your God, serve Him, cling to Him, swear by His name alone!

– Deuteronomy 10:20 (CEB)

 

…cling tightly to the Lord your God as you have done until now.

– Joshua 23:8 (NLT)

 

Husbands, you must love your wives so deeply, purely, and sacrificially that we can understand it only when we compare it to the love the Anointed One has for His bride, the church. We know He gave Himself up completely to make her His own, washing her clean of all her impurity with water and the powerful presence of His word.

– Ephesians 5:24-26 (VOICE)

 

Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the Lord and did not stop following Him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook.

– 2 Kings 18:5-7 (NIV)

 

Men ought to give their wives the love they naturally have for their own bodies. The love a man gives his wife is the extending of his love for himself to enfold her. Nobody ever hates or neglects his own body; he feeds and looks after it. And that is what Christ does for His body, the Church. And we are all members of that body, we are His flesh and blood! ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’. The marriage relationship is doubtless a great mystery, but I am speaking of something deeper still—the marriage of Christ and his Church. In practice what I have said amounts to this: let every one of you who is a husband love his wife as he loves himself; let the wife reverence her husband.

– Ephesians 5:30-32 (PHILLIPS)

 

Let us be glad and rejoice,
and let us give honor to Him.
For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb,
and His bride has prepared herself.
She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.”
For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.
And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.”

– Revelation 19:7-9 (NLT)

 

Photo by Nicole Stewart